Trial to start in fatal '03 shooting

Monday

Jan 16, 2006 at 12:01 AM

MABEL PEREZStaff Writer

OCALA - A 23-year-old man accused of shooting a laundry employee to death in February 2003 during an apparent robbery attempt is scheduled to face a jury on Tuesday.
James Green Jr. went to Koin Klean Laundromat, near the intersection of State Road 200 and South Pine Avenue, around 10:45 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2003, according to the Ocala Police Department.
Police say Green, a former employee, pulled out a rifle as laundry manager Arthur Lefebvre, 57, cashed out for the night, and shot and killed Wendell Hill.
The Vanguard High School 11th-grader had been standing near Lefebvre.
Green is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault with the firearm.
Police said Lefebvre positively identified Green and knew his name because he was a former employee. He told authorities that a few days before the shooting Green had asked him to borrow money for Valentine's Day.
Green maintains he is innocent. He told investigators he was in Marion Oaks with friends when the shooting occurred.
In a sworn statement, Lefebvre said he heard Hill exclaim and say, "Oh, no."
"And when I turned there was a rifle in the door and before I could get the door closed there was a shot," Lefebvre said during the deposition. Hill had been shot.
"I know he tried to shoot me afterwards," Lefebvre continued. Green told him, "You're next. I'll kill you, too."
Lefebvre said he was able to close the metal office door and began stabbing Green with a screwdriver as he tried to push it open.
Assistant State Attorney John Moore is prosecuting the case. Chief Assistant Public Defender Bill Miller is representing Green.
According to court records, crime scene technicians found two shoe prints in the laundry but didn't find gunpowder residue or gunpowder. They did find pieces of torn fabric on a fence beside the laundry.
Police never found the gun. Police reports indicate Green had a cut on his hand consistent with a screwdriver cut and his pants were torn.
He faces life in prison if convicted as charged.
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Mabel Perez may be reached at mabel.perez@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4106.